Defense and Security
Seven Americans, four of whom are presumed dead, are being held captive in Gaza. Keith Siegal and Sagui Dekel-Chen could be freed as early as Sunday.
“The Israeli Cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” said the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
“If they need to go back in, we’re with them. If Hamas doesn’t live up to the terms of this agreement, we are with them.”
The agreement includes Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border and the return of hundreds of thousands to northern Gaza.
“You have to fight the ideology and change people’s minds and hearts.”
“Hamas shows no mercy even for the dead,” the IDF Spokesperson said.
“The prime minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can,” according to a statement from Jerusalem.
“This isn’t ‘peace through strength,’” Mort Klein, of ZOA, told JNS. “It is heartbreaking and infuriating and frightening that Israel’s government is agreeing to this deal.”
Benny Gantz, chairman of the National Unity Party, said securing the release of the hostages “is simply the only way forward.”
“There is no greater moral, human, Jewish or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us,” said the Israeli head of state.
“It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin,” the president said.
“It is now time to deliver this agreement for all hostages and their families, the people of Gaza, and the people of the region,” said the E.U. foreign policy chief.
